New broom fiber (Spartium junceum L.) derivatives: preparation and characterization

J Agric Food Chem. 2007 Nov 14;55(23):9489-95. doi: 10.1021/jf071711k. Epub 2007 Oct 19.

Abstract

In the past decade interest in biopolymers has increased. Attempts were made to prepare new composite systems from biopolymers by binding different synthetic polymers to a biopolymer backbone. This paper reports the synthesis and characterization of derivatized broom fibers to prepare composites with either degradability or fireproofing properties. Synthetic strategies are described for the introduction of polymerizable functional groups or fluorine atoms on the glucose of cellulose chains of broom. The fibers containing polymerizable groups were copolymerized with dimethylacrylamide and styrene and, after that, investigated by optical polarizing microscopy (OPM) and scanning electron microscopy analysis (SEM). The materials containing fluorine were submitted to thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) for the purpose of verifying the fireproofing. Such derivatized biomaterials could be successfully used for applications in agriculture and in the packaging area.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acrylamides / chemistry
  • Biopolymers / chemistry*
  • Flame Retardants
  • Fluorine / chemistry
  • Polymers / chemical synthesis
  • Spartium / chemistry*
  • Styrene / chemistry

Substances

  • Acrylamides
  • Biopolymers
  • Flame Retardants
  • Polymers
  • Fluorine
  • Styrene